30 June 2008

The Westminster Stakes: Confusing Signals

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I am sure that Paddy Power is as convinced today as he was a week and a half ago that Archbishop Nichols has this in the bag but this afternoon, the Archbishop's odds have lengthened to 13-8, and nearly every other runner's odds have lengthened as well, most to the point where reality about their prospects is finally reflected in their price. However Fr Ignatius Harrison of the London Oratory has entered the running at 10-1: this is somebody taking the mickey, paying Paddy a few bob to get their friend's name on to the list.

Who is advising Paddy on this one? Is changing the odds simply about raising interest and attracting money? Or is he on to something?

And if the latter, why do Fr Timothy Radcliffe's odds remain so frighteningly and stubbornly short?

Rt Rev Vincent Nichols 13-8 (5-4) (2-1) (7-4) (2-1) (7-2)
Fr Timothy Radcliffe 6-1 (10-1) (6-1)
Dom Hugh Gilbert 8-1 (6-1) (4-1)
Rt Rev Kevin McDonald 8-1 (6-1) (5-1) (7-2)
Bishop William Kenney 10-1 (9-1) (8-1) (15-2) (6-1)
Rt Rev Malcolm McMahon 10-1 (8-1)
Very Rev. Fr. Ignatius Harrison 10-1
Rt Rev Alan Hopes 12-1 (10-1) (8-1) (6-1) (11-2)
Rt Rev Arthur Roche 12-1 (10-1) (12-1) (10-1) (12-1)
Fr T Finegan 16-1 (10-1)
Cardinal Pell 16-1 (12-1) (10-1)
Rt Rev Peter Smith 16-1 (12-1)
Fr Aidan Nichols 20-1 (14-1) (12-1) (11-1) (5-1) (6-1)
Bishop George Stack 20-1 (16-1)
Rt Rev Michael Evans 22-1 (20-1) (16-1)
Rt Rev Patrick Kelly 25-1 (16-1) (14-1) (12-1) (10-1) (12-1)
Fr Christopher Jamison 25-1 (20-1)
Bishop John Rawsthorne 25-1 (20-1)
Archbishop Michael Louis Fitzgerald 25-1 (16-1) (14-1) (12-1) (10-1) (12-1)
Bishop Patrick O’Donoghue 33-1 (20-1) (16-1)
Rt Rev Bernard Longley 33-1 (20-1) (16-1) (14-1) (12-1)
Bishop John Patrick Crowley Non-runner (33-1)

3 comments:

the mother of this lot said...

Yes!! Bishop Kelly's gone from 16s to 25-1.

(If my dad knew I was saying this about a Bishop.....)

I'm sticking with the Abbot at 8-1.

Anonymous said...

I heard there was a submission but the three were rejected. In which case I would guess Nichols, Radcliff and Roche(for his play at pointer) would be eliminated.

Anonymous said...

It won't be Radcliffe, but it could still be another Dominican - either one in this country not yet a bishop, or an Oxford-educated auxiliary in an oversees (Commonwealth) archdiocese. Who knows what's in the Holy Father's mind? Paddy Power certainly won't.

And if it was going to be Vin Nichols, couldn't that have been done last year when the Cardinal turned 75?